Why in news?
Recently Australia has passed the world-first bill that bans all vapes from general retail later this year.
What are the New-age gateway devices?
- New Age gateway devices - These are devices that were introduced and marketed as a healthier alternative to smoking that would make it easier to quit tobacco.
- Forms – Some of the tobacco product used to describe electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are
- Vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, hookah pens, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs), e-cigars, e-pipes, Heat-not-burn (HNB) devices & other heated tobacco products (HTPs) are
- These are highly engineered drug delivery devices.
- Following a puff, the aerosol is delivered to the user’s mouth and lungs and the rest is exhaled.
- The e-liquid contains a range of ingredients such as propylene glycol, nicotine and flavourings.
To know more about e-cigarette, click here
What are the impacts of new-age gateway devices in children?
- Affect development of children - These new-age gateway devices led to a surge in youth vaping, creating a new pandemic.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2023, e-cigarettes were most commonly used product among middle and high school students in United States.
- Health Issues – Continued use of these devices, poses irreversible health risks like lung damage and the e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
- Mental health issues – It leads to mental health challenges such as depressive symptoms, anxiety, perceived stress, and suicide-related behaviours among adolescents.
- Social Issues - Those who vape are more likely to experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation when compared to their peers who abstain from these.
- Addiction – E-cigarettes are highly addictive, particularly for individuals up to around the age of 25.
- Benzoic acid in nicotine e-liquid produces protonated nicotine which enhances the addictive potential.
- Cyclical effect – This is a developmental stage which makes them especially vulnerable to structural and chemical changes induced by nicotine addiction.
- Once addiction takes root, it can increase the likelihood of developing other substance use disorders later in life.
- E-Waste - There are no practical means to collect or recycle vapes.
- Environmental Issues – volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, such as nickel, tin and lead have toxic effects on the environment – land, air, water.
Why children’s are highly susceptible to addiction?
- The age group most at risk remains between 10 and 20 years old, a demographic that manufacturers allegedly exploit through appealing advertising and enticing vaping flavours.
- Targeted advertisements – The colourful imagery created by these new-age gateway devices suggests that these products will bring happiness and elevate one’s social status.
- It is marketed with addition of flavours such as strawberry, cotton candy, pop rocks, and lemonade.
- Technology Addiction – Excessive technology usage is driving some children towards these addictive devices.
- Peer influence – Friends’ positive attitudes towards vaping is the major introductory factor.
- Children often prioritise peer preferences over their own, leading them to embrace it.
- Lack of Awareness - Many children, teenagers, and even parents mistakenly believe that vaping only involves harmless water vapour and pleasant flavours.
How India regulates new-age smoking alternatives?
- Indian had passed Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act in 2019.
- Ban – It prohibits the production, trade, storage, and advertisement of electronic cigarettes in India.
- Punishments - Any person stores any stock of e-cigarettes, will be punishable with an imprisonment of up to six months, or a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or both.
- Any person who contravenes other restrictive provision will be punishable with imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both.
What lies ahead?
- Comprehensively ban all the all forms of new age gateway devices such as Hookah, vapes.
- Stop the promotion of ENDS as the alternatives to conventional tobacco products.
- Create awareness among people about the negative impacts of all forms of new age gateway devices.
- Strengthen the surveillance and enforcement capacity for effective enforcement of the ban.
References
- The Hindu | New-age gateway devices, the latest health threat
- The Hindu | How do vapes work
